Ischaemum beccarii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 40–70 cm long; wiry. Lateral branches lacking. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 10–16 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes (1–)2; single, or paired; 4–6 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; angular; ciliate on margins. Rhachis internodes oblong; 4.5–5.5 mm long; flat and forming a U or V shape with the pedicel in rear view. Rhachis internode tip transverse; cupuliform.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels oblong; 1 length of internode; ciliate.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; containing empty lemmas; linear; asymmetrical; laterally compressed; 3–5 mm long; shorter than fertile; separately deciduous. Companion sterile spikelet glumes chartaceous; keeled; winged on keels. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas 1-awned; with 4 mm long awn.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 5–6 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus pilose; base truncate; inserted.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; chartaceous; 2-keeled; keeled above; keeled laterally; winged on keel; winged narrowly; winged near apex; 4 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins obscure. Lower glume surface flat; glabrous. Lower glume apex dentate; 2 -fid. Upper glume lanceolate; chartaceous; 1-keeled; keeled above; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 4–5 mm long; hyaline. Fertile lemma oblong; 2 mm long; membranous; without keel. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.5 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 7–8 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn glabrous. Palea 1 length of lemma.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2–2.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Malesia.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Jansen 1993.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.